Metabolic changes in serum steroids induced by total-body irradiation of female C57B/6 mice

The short- and long-term effects of a single exposure to gamma radiation on steroid metabolism were investigated in mice. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to generate quantitative profiles of serum steroid levels in mice that had undergone total-body irradiation (TBI) at doses of 0 Gy, 1 Gy, and 4 Gy. Following TBI, serum samples were collected at the pre-dose time point and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after TBI. Serum levels of progestins, progesterone, 5 beta-DHP, 5 alpha-DHP, and 20 alpha-DHP showed a significant down-regulation following short-term exposure to 4 Gy, with the exception of 20a-DHP, which was significantly decreased at each of the time points measured. The corticosteroids 5 alpha-THDOC and 5 alpha DHB were significantly elevated at each of the time points measured after exposure to either 1 or 4 Gy. Among the sterols, 24S-OH-cholestoerol showed a dose-related elevation after irradiation that reached significance in the high dose group at the 6- and 9-month time points. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.